No driver should ever get into a vehicle and drive without making sure the vehicle is safe to drive.
Commercial drivers understand this, and the concept of the pre-trip inspection is well-accepted and practiced in the trucking industry.
However, a minimum of a walk-around should be performed at every stop beside when in traffic. For example, you stop at a truck stop for a quick restroom break and get right back on the road, if the truck has left your sight make sure you do another quick walk-around before driving away. Who knows what you might see? Perhaps a hanging airline, or perhaps something is underneath your vehicle that requires attention before you start up again.
The habit of performing a quick walk-around before driving is a great habit to start and maintain. The more you get to know your vehicle the more you will be able to anticipate problems.
